I never expected to find myself reading monster romances—and honestly, I’m still not sure how I feel about it. But here we are. So, I guess I should start at the beginning.
The first book was actually given to me by Anna. Yes, Anna—the one who’s always got a mischievous glint in her eye and a knack for finding the most random things to get obsessed with. She popped by the tower one morning with this gleam in her eyes, holding out a book as if it was a treasure she’d just discovered. "You have to read this," she said, barely containing her excitement. "It’s the best thing ever!"
It was The Beast of Ravenshade, a book about a cursed prince who’s transformed into a terrifying wolf-like creature, and who falls in love with a village girl. As she handed me the book, she practically shoved it into my hands, urging me to give it a try. I think she’d been reading them for weeks—though, I still can’t figure out where she found the time, considering how much she loves to “experiment” with new spells and remedies.
I admit, I gave her a skeptical look. I mean, monster romances? I’d heard the term tossed around in passing but never thought I’d be interested. But Anna, with her persistent enthusiasm, convinced me to read it—and I guess, after a long day of feeling like I’d been stuck in the tower forever, I figured, why not?
At first, I thought it would be just another silly story. The prince-turned-beast seemed like something out of a folktale, and I was sure it would be predictable. But then I found myself getting sucked into the world. The idea of the beast being trapped between his monstrous form and his yearning for connection... well, it’s not quite as far-fetched as it seemed. The girl—who, of course, sees the kindness hidden beneath the creature’s terrifying exterior—wasn't just some girl either. She was strong, compassionate, and didn't let the appearance of the beast define her.
As I read on, I found myself thinking about Gavri'el and Folcmar. Strange, I know, but hear me out: there’s something about both of them. Gavri'el—so serious, so controlled—definitely has a side of him that seems like he’s trying to hide something. Maybe not a beast in the literal sense, but there's a part of him that he doesn’t let others see. Folcmar, on the other hand, is more open, almost too open sometimes. His carefree attitude reminds me a little of the village girl in the story—finding something in the beast that others might miss.
Okay, fine, maybe I’m getting carried away with this. But seriously—monster romances? Who knew they’d be so... thought-provoking?
I won't lie, I did find some parts of the book a little cheesy (a lot of the descriptions about the beast’s “glistening fur” made me giggle). But underneath all the fluff, I realized there was a deeper message. The monster doesn't just fall for the girl because she’s kind to him, but because she’s willing to look beyond his physical form and see the truth within him. And maybe, just maybe, we all need a little more of that in our lives.
I guess I’ve been thinking a lot about monsters lately. Not just the literal kind, but also the figurative ones. I’ve seen plenty of creatures who may seem frightening or dangerous at first glance (and we won’t even get started on the number of spiders I’ve had to deal with in this tower). But the more I read, the more I realize that everyone—and every creature—has layers. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of looking past what we think we know to uncover something more meaningful.
So, I may not be rushing to read every monster romance out there (I’m not sure I’m ready to dive into Lover of the Lycans just yet), but I’ll admit—Anna might be onto something. There’s a strange kind of comfort in these fantastical worlds. Maybe the monsters in these books aren't so different from the people (or creatures) we meet in our own lives. They might just need a little understanding... and a touch of patience.
For now, I’m going to keep reading. Who knows? I might just start to enjoy these more than I expected.
And Anna? She definitely owes me for this one.
Sarra
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